A leading home improvement specialist has opened its first showroom inside the M25 as it looks to tap into growing demand for its range of products.
Hazlemere, which is led by Rachel Braham-Hill, has invested £100,000 into bringing the site on Swakeleys Road in Ickenham back to life, putting in a full selection of windows and doors and touchscreen digital displays that will be showcasing a portfolio of living spaces.
Two new jobs have been created with a further three to follow when a fitting team is introduced.
Benefitting from its involvement in the Conservatory Outlet network, the family-run company has seen sales rise despite tough trading conditions and is hoping that the launch of its third showroom will act as a geographic bridge between existing locations in High Wycombe and Welwyn Garden City.
“This is a really important move for the business and gives us an immediate footprint inside the M25,” explained Rachel.
“Ickenham is very affluent, and we had noticed we had started to pick up customers from this area, even though they were travelling to our other locations.”
She continued: “This made us eye a potential third site and, when this building came up, we jumped at the chance. It had been a home improvement showroom before but needed a lot of work, so we decided to rip everything out and refurbish it to exactly what we wanted.
“We now have a modern space that features a wide range of windows and doors, with experts on hand to talk potential customers through ‘on trend’ options and energy efficiency savings.”
Hazlemere has turned to Loretto O’Donoghue to support the roll-out of the new showroom, a move that will tap into her considerable industry experience and a 40-year connection with the site.
Her family had previously owned their own window and door firm that had been in Ickenham for more than three decades.
Loretto said: “I’m really pleased to be working with Hazlemere on this venture – it feels like I’m going back home to my roots.
“We have a fantastic range of windows and doors to show people and access to our wider living space displays at our other showrooms. Hopefully, my local knowledge can really pay dividends.”
Hazlemere, which was formed by 1985 by father and son team George and Stuart Braham, has been part of the Conservatory Outlet since 2011.
This relationship gives it access to comprehensive digital marketing support and best practice sharing across its 28 members. It also gives the company access to the latest window and door ranges being manufactured in the Network’s factory in Yorkshire.
Greg Kane, Chief Executive of Conservatory Outlet, concluded: “We are really pleased to see Rachel and the team expand into a third showroom and into an important geographic area that has lots of new opportunities.
“They have so much energy to succeed and we’re looking forward to continue to support the firm as it continues to grow and position itself as one of the leading retailers and installers in the country.”
